$46 Million Lemont Fire District Referendum Goes To Voters

LEMONT, IL — Election Day is almost upon us, and while the presidential race of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is the biggest race on the ticket, there are several local races and referenda to keep an eye on as well.

In Lemont, the Lemont Fire Protection District is asking voters about a $46,195,000 bond referendum, which is focused on improving emergency response times, and renovating and relocating facilities.

The question on the ballot will read: "Shall the Lemont Fire Protection District, Cook, DuPage and Will Counties, Illinois, build, improve and equip fire stations and facilities, including relocating two existing fire stations, and issue its bonds to the amount of $46,195,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

The Lemont Fire Protection District serves all of Lemont, and parts of Palos Park and Woodridge, as well as unincorporated parts of Cook, Will and DuPage counties. It serves 26.4 square miles.

According to the fire district website, it currently has four fire stations: station no. 1 at 15900 New Ave., Lemont; station no. 2 at 12940 S. Bell Road in Lemont; station no. 3 at 10801 S. Marmon Drive, in Woodridge; and station no. 4 at 11520 S. Walker Road, in Lemont.

Funding from the bond referendum would enable improvement in response times across the District by relocating fire stations #1 (15900 New Ave., in Lemont) and #3 (10801 S. Marmon Drive, in Woodridge), renovating fire stations #2 and #4, and upgrading essential emergency equipment and supplies, according to the fire district.

Station 1 would be relocated to 15783 W. 127th St., in Lemont, and station 3 would be relocated to 1051 Internationale Parkway, in Lemont.

The District said that it owns the property where station no. 1 is located, so it would be sold to reduce the cost of new facilities. The land where station no. 3 is located was donated to the fire district, so if a sale is not possible due to deed provisions, then it could be used as a training center.

A successful referendum would also provide funding for ongoing training initiatives and proper firefighting gear storage to reduce firefighter/paramedic exposure to carcinogens, according to the district.

The District has said that the increase in Lemont's population over the past two years, and the shift in development to the southwest side of town, has increased demand for emergency services throughout the community and in newly developed areas of the District.

Currently, responding to a medical emergency can take more than eight minutes, which is longer than national standards and neighboring fire protection districts.

The District said that its aging fire stations also lack sufficient space to house the nationally recommended number of firefighters and are inadequate for accommodating today’s emergency vehicles and equipment.

"Many of our stations were built in a different era," according to the fire district website. "Currently, our emergency response vehicles barely fit in the fire station bays. Responses are delayed in some situations because vehicles have to be moved to allow other vehicles to exit the station, and in some cases, trailers have to be connected."

If approved by voters, the proposal would result in an additional investment of approximately $15.40 a month for the owner of a $400,000 home in Cook County and $17.45 in DuPage and Will counties.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you are already in line to vote when the polls close, you can still vote — so don't leave!

If you don't know your polling place, find it here.